Indian markets end in red amid mixed global cues

Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) A key Indian equity market index ended in the red Wednesday due to confusing global cues, though the markets appeared to be consolidating a day after a record close. The markets that opened in the red Wednesday as per international trends, went flat and could not manage to pick up in the second half. Important sectors like oil and gas, capital goods, banking and public sector units’ scrips were offloaded.

The 30-share Sensitive Index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, opened at 16,270.12 points and notched a high of 16,309.88 before closing at 16,086.83 points. It lost 130.66 points or 0.81 percent at the day’s close. On Tuesday it had registered a high of 16,217.49.

The S&P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which opened at 4,878.70 points, closed at 4,828.85 after touching the day’s high at 4,912.30 points. At close, it registered a fall of 48.65 points or 1.00 percent.

However, the BSE Midcap index, which closed at 6,271.03 points, was up 96.54 points or 1.56 percent. Also, the BSE Smallcap index, which closed at 7,438.96 points, went up 154.32 or 2.12 percent.

On BSE, the market breadth was extremely low with low trading volumes. A total of 1,725 shares advanced, 986 shares declined and 49 shares remained unchanged.

The top gainers of the day included HDFC at Rs.2,660.35, up 2.73 percent, HDFC Bank at Rs.1,441.15, up 1.64 percent, Tata Steel at Rs.657.85, up 3.79 percent and ITC at Rs.195.10, up 2.09 percent.

The top losers of the day were Hindustan Unilever at Rs.234.40, down 4.31 percent, ICICI Bank at Rs.843.25, down 4.17 percent, Bharti Airtel at Rs.803.10, down 3.75 percent and DLF at Rs.657.80, down 3.07 percent.